Homeworlds and the Astronomican

[Wulfebane]

My IA idea almost complete, I've come across a speed bump in the manner of choosing a suitable resting place for my chapter. Their concept relies on being within proximity of a stationary terrestrial facility (not necessarily their homeworld), but when it came time to pick planets, aside from imperial classifications - hive/death/feral, etc - I can't find much information on sector/sub-sector/system documentation.

 

 

Long story short - is there a semi-comprehensive listing of this sort of information somewhere (other than the lexicanum.. I've tapped it dry)?

 

 

Also, I'm toying with the practicality of having the sector outside the range of the Astronomican beacon. Given that Blood Ravens often take roles as escorts to AdMech Explorator Fleets, would it be plausible to acquire adequate supplies from an Explorator Base or is a Forge World absolutely necessary to supply the demands of an entire Chapter? Alternately is it plausible for a Forge World unlinked from my own diy to have established outside the Beacon, or again, is the Beacon absolutely necessary as well?

 

 

Given that the Astronomican is mandatory to warp-based travel, is it possible to extend the Beacon outward limited to a finite course via "buoy" outposts?

[Erasmus of Baal]

My IA idea almost complete, I've come across a speed bump in the manner of choosing a suitable resting place for my chapter. Their concept relies on being within proximity of a stationary terrestrial facility (not necessarily their homeworld), but when it came time to pick planets, aside from imperial classifications - hive/death/feral, etc - I can't find much information on sector/sub-sector/system documentation.

That's because there are huge amounts of the 40K galaxy that are undocumented. Take a look, for example, at a map of Tau space (note especially the map's size against the whole of the galaxy) or one of the more famous systems. You can basically do whatever you want, especially in...

 

Also, I'm toying with the practicality of having the sector outside the range of the Astronomican beacon. Given that Blood Ravens often take roles as escorts to AdMech Explorator Fleets, would it be plausible to acquire adequate supplies from an Explorator Base or is a Forge World absolutely necessary to supply the demands of an entire Chapter? Alternately is it plausible for a Forge World unlinked from my own diy to have established outside the Beacon, or again, is the Beacon absolutely necessary as well?

...the Halo Stars! While going beyond the light of the Astronomican is dangerous at best, you could theoretically convince a Space Marine Chapter to be stationed out there, and this is the only place in 40K where you could pull that off.

 

Also, no, it's not reasonable to have a Forge World that far out. There just isn't a good reason to, and the Mechanicus are some of the smarter guys in 40K.

 

Oh! One more thing. Your Chapter doesn't get its supplies from a Forge World or any such; that's one of the major roles of the Fortress-Monastery, as it functions (in addition to a great many other things) as a workshop for your Techmarines to make whatever parts they can for the Chapter.

 

Given that the Astronomican is mandatory to warp-based travel, is it possible to extend the Beacon outward limited to a finite course via "buoy" outposts?

Nope. The Astronomican is pretty completely unique. Do you have any idea how much power that thing runs on? We're talking about the sacrifices of literally hundreds of psykers every day. With that kind of need, do you honestly think that anyone in the Imperium would claim to want to build a second one?

 

Furthermore, the Astronomican isn't strictly required for Warp travel; it just makes things a lot safer because it's easier to navigate when you have a lighthouse to judge your position by. And we're not talking about some calm, daylight sea, oh no, the Warp is more like a hurricane in the dead of night with a new moon giving you zero light to work with. Doable without help, sure, but do you want to try that? Didn't think so. Neither do the Navigators.

 

 

Final notes: You were wrong about having "tapped [the Lexicanum] dry," or else you would have known all this and already had the answers to your questions. Also, do read the Octaguide, probably the single best guide to making DIY Chapters that I've ever read.

[Wulfebane]

Thanks for the quick (and concise!) reply. Yeah, the Halo Stars were where I was thinking and/or Veil of Darkness quadrant. I ventured over to their sector/sub-sector links to match up planets to sectors, etc (I'm horrible making them up...) but found it lacking to what I was hoping, I guess.

 

As to chapters being self-sustaining outside of the AdMech, that was something that didn't seem to be indicated anywhere... or if anything, seemingly contrary to the point... atleast in regard to fleets. I was under the impression that any of a chapter's fleet-based transports (galactic vessels) had to be manufactured by the AdMech, as the endeavor is too big for a homeworld/fort-monastery - my basis of thought for this is from my knowledge of SWs and how all their vessels are either ancient or scavenged, as the Fang doesn't manufacture them.

 

As to the Astronomican, I was just sort of curious how Explorator fleets/rogue vessels manage outside of the Beacon without daring to enter the Warp, or if impulse speed was the only option. The Lex left me with a vague feeling and was curious if any loopholes had arisen.

 

I'd read the Octaguide a few months back, and upon returning, assumed the Ferrata guide in the resource sticky was the same thing, so thanks for the link!

[Gulag]

The Heresy Books and possibly one of the Night Lords novels by ADB have mentioned Psychic Beacons set up in the fringes of the Imperium to provide limited navigational aid outside of the range of the Astronomicon. Smaller, shorter ranged and less advanced etm. they are set up in a network, like a string of lights along a dark path sort of thing.

[Wulfebane]

The Heresy Books and possibly one of the Night Lords novels by ADB have mentioned Psychic Beacons set up in the fringes of the Imperium to provide limited navigational aid outside of the range of the Astronomicon. Smaller, shorter ranged and less advanced etm. they are set up in a network, like a string of lights along a dark path sort of thing.

 

Yes! That's what I considered implementing. If you could remember which book titles, that'd be great!

[Gulag]

The Heresy Books and possibly one of the Night Lords novels by ADB have mentioned Psychic Beacons set up in the fringes of the Imperium to provide limited navigational aid outside of the range of the Astronomicon. Smaller, shorter ranged and less advanced etm. they are set up in a network, like a string of lights along a dark path sort of thing.

 

Yes! That's what I considered implementing. If you could remember which book titles, that'd be great!

 

Off the top of my head I can say the beacons were mentioned in the Dark Angels story of the Primarchs anthology. As for which of the Night Angel books the beacons were mentioned in, I'd say Void Stalker but that isn't for certain.

 

The Heresy Books and possibly one of the Night Lords novels by ADB have mentioned Psychic Beacons set up in the fringes of the Imperium to provide limited navigational aid outside of the range of the Astronomicon. Smaller, shorter ranged and less advanced etm. they are set up in a network, like a string of lights along a dark path sort of thing.

 

Yes! That's what I considered implementing. If you could remember which book titles, that'd be great!

 

Off the top of my head I can say the beacons were mentioned in the Dark Angels story of the Primarchs anthology. As for which of the Night Angel books the beacons were mentioned in, I'd say Void Stalker but that isn't for certain.

 

Also, at the very end of Fear to Tread there is a scene where a legion is drawn to a beacon that is NOT the Astronomicon. There are precedents out there.

[Erasmus of Baal]

As to chapters being self-sustaining outside of the AdMech, that was something that didn't seem to be indicated anywhere... or if anything, seemingly contrary to the point... atleast in regard to fleets. I was under the impression that any of a chapter's fleet-based transports (galactic vessels) had to be manufactured by the AdMech, as the endeavor is too big for a homeworld/fort-monastery - my basis of thought for this is from my knowledge of SWs and how all their vessels are either ancient or scavenged, as the Fang doesn't manufacture them.

Ah, see, fleets are a different matter. Yes, those are produced outside the Chapter, but unless you have some really stupid commanding officers, there's no need to have quick access to a manufacturing point.

 

As to the Astronomican, I was just sort of curious how Explorator fleets/rogue vessels manage outside of the Beacon without daring to enter the Warp, or if impulse speed was the only option. The Lex left me with a vague feeling and was curious if any loopholes had arisen.

You can still use the Warp for travel decently well without the Astronomican; it's just a lot harder and a lot less safe. And in such a hyper-religious time as 40K, people might be rather afraid of leaving their god's line of sight....

 

So, yeah. You can get around without the Astronomican, it just takes a massive pair made of ceramite and a lot more time.